The country continues to experience catastrophic violence and desolation four years since the February 2021 military takeover. Since the military junta orchestrated its brutal crackdown thousands of civilians lost their lives and 3.3 million people became displaced while the economy crumbled into destruction. The junta retains control of power while ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and the National Unity Government (NUG) resist their rule through a endless war.
ASEAN has not achieved results from its mediation attempts which included the Five-Point Consensus. The military junta does not heed requests for dialogue and continues pushing for fake elections to gain official power. UN experts maintain that running elections under ongoing violent suppression demonstrates complete denial of reality which will make both conditions and the situation worse.
China together with other Myanmar neighbors have a critical role in finding solutions to end the ongoing conflict. China’s broad control of the junta makes it important but its choice to pursue its commercial priorities first ignores Myanmar’s political stability measures. Thailand and India find it difficult to develop shared regional solutions which prevents them from finding a resolution to the crisis. 
The international organizations need to take immediate action. To make the junta responsible for its actions target-specific sanctions alongside military weapon blockades and backing for NUG and EAO organizations must be established. The ASEAN member states and neighboring states must shift from empty expressions to direct forceful measures when dealing with the military to start effective dialogue.
Myanmar’s citizens have exhibited outstanding strength yet they need outside help to carry the weight of the situation. The world must not look away. The Myanmar crisis requires action from the entire world because it tests both democracy and human rights support on a global scale.
The time for action is now. Myanmar’s future depends on it.
